Bimetallic catalytic complexes for the copolymerisation of carbon dioxide and an epoxide

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a novel catalyst of formula (I): wherein M is selected from Zn(H), Co(II), Mn(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Cr(III)-X or Fe(III)-X, and the use thereof in polymerising carbon dioxide and an epoxide.

The present invention provides a novel catalyst and its use in the co-polymerisation of carbon dioxide and an epoxide.

Carbon dioxide is an attractive reagent for synthetic chemistry as it is abundant, inexpensive, of low toxicity and the waste product of many chemical processes. The copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxides, known for several decades as illustrated in FIG. 1, is a particularly promising route to activate and use CO₂ as a renewable C-1 source. Furthermore, if cyclohexene oxide is used, the copolymer has a high glass transition temperature and tensile strength, but is also degradable.

The first report of the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and an epoxide was reported by Inoue et al, in 1969 using diethyl zinc and alcohols to produce poly(propylene carbonate), albeit with very low turn-over numbers (TON). Subsequently several research groups developed more active and controlled catalysts, including zinc phenoxide, zinc β-diiminate and chromium(III) or cobalt(III) salen complexes and various bimetallic zinc catalysts, including anilido aniline zinc catalysts. The zinc β-diiminate complexes show very high turn-over frequencies (TOF), as well as excellent control for the copolymerization of CO₂ and cyclohexene oxide.

However, the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and an epoxide currently requires the use of high pressures in order to achieve the necessary turn over numbers and turn over frequencies. Furthermore, the use of such air sensitive catalysts requires the use of special handling techniques to avoid deactivation of the catalyst. There is therefore a need in the art for improved catalysts to allow use of carbon dioxide as a renewable C-1 source.

There is therefore provided by the first aspect of the invention a catalyst of formula (I)

wherein R₁ and R₂ are independently hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, halide, amine, a nitro group, an ether group, a silyl ether group, a nitrile group or an acetylide group; R₃ is alkylene, arylene or cycloalkylene; R₄ is H, alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl;

E₁ is C, E₂ is O, S or NH or E₁ is N and E₂ is O;

X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂, alkyl, alkoxy, halide or amido;

M is Zn(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Cr(II), Cr(III)-X, Co(III)-X, Mn(III)-X or Fe(III)-X.

For the purpose of the present invention, an alkyl group is preferably a “C₁₋₆ alkyl group”, that is an alkyl group that is a straight or branched chain with 1 to 6 carbons. The alkyl group therefore has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms. Specifically, examples of “C₁₋₆ alkyl group” include methyl group, ethyl group, n-propyl group, iso-propyl group, n-butyl group, iso-butyl group, sec-butyl group, tert-butyl group, n-pentyl group, 1,1-dimethylpropyl group, 1,2-dimethylpropyl group, 2,2-dimethylpropyl group, 1-ethylpropyl group, n-hexyl group, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl group, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl group, 1-ethylbutyl group, 1-methylbutyl group, 2-methylbutyl group, 1,1-dimethylbutyl group, 1,2-dimethylbutyl group, 2,2-dimethylbutyl group, 1,3-dimethylbutyl group, 2,3-dimethylbutyl group, 2-ethylbutyl group, 2-methylpentyl group, 3-methylpentyl group and the like.

A cycloalkyl group is preferably a “C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl group” that is a cycloalkyl group with 3 to 8 carbon atoms. The cycloalkyl group therefore has 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 carbon atoms. Specifically, examples of the C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl group include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl. It will be appreciated that the cycloalkyl group may comprise a cycloalkyl ring bearing one or more linking or non-linking alkyl substitutents, such as —CH₂-cyclohexyl.

The term “halide” used herein means a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom and the like, preferably a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom, and more preferably a fluorine atom.

A haloalkyl group is prefereably a “C₁₋₆ haloalkyl group” and is a C₁₋₆ alkyl group as described above substituted with 1, 2 or 3 halogen atom(s). Specifically, examples of “C₁₋₆ haloalkyl group” include fluoromethyl group, difluoromethyl group, trifluoromethyl group, fluoroethyl group, difluoroethyl group, trifluoroethyl group, chloromethyl group, bromomethyl group, iodomethyl group and the like.

An alkoxy group is preferably a “C₁₋₆ alkoxy group” and is an oxy group that is bonded to the previously defined “C₁₋₆ alkyl group”. Specifically, examples of “C₁₋₆ alkoxy group” include methoxy group, ethoxy group, n-propoxy group, iso-propoxy group, n-butoxy group, iso-butoxy group, sec-butoxy group, tert-butoxy group, n-pentyloxy group, iso-pentyloxy group, sec-pentyloxy group, n-hexyloxy group, iso-hexyloxy group, 1,1-dimethylpropoxy group, 1,2-1 dimethylpropoxy group, 2,2-dimethylpropoxy group, 2-methylbutoxy group, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropoxy group, 1,1,2-trimethylpropoxy group, 1,1-dimethylbutoxy group, 1,2-dimethylbutoxy group, 2,2-dimethylbutoxy group, 2,3-dimethylbutoxy group, 1,3-dimethylbutoxy group, 2-ethylbutoxy group, 2-methylpentyloxy group, 3-methylpentyloxy group and the like.

An aryl group is preferably a “C₆₋₁₂ aryl group” and is an aryl group constituted by 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 carbon atoms and includes condensed ring groups such as monocyclic ring group, or bicyclic ring group and the like. Specifically, examples of “C₆₋₁₀ aryl group” include phenyl group, biphenyl group, indenyl group, naphthyl group or azulenyl group and the like. It should be noted that condensed rings such as indan and tetrahydro naphthalene are also included in the aryl group.

An alkylaryl group is preferably a “C₁₋₁₆ alkyl C₆₋₁₂ aryl group” and is an aryl group as defined above bonded at any position to an alkyl group as defined above. Preferably, the alkylaryl group is —CH₂-Ph or —CH₂CH₂-Ph.

An ether group is preferably a group OR₅ wherein R₅ can be an alkyl group or an aryl group as defined above. Preferably, R₅ is an alkyl group selected from methyl, ethyl or propyl.

A silyl ether group is preferably a group OSi(R₆)₃ wherein each R₆ can be independently an alkyl group or an aryl group as defined above. Preferably, each R₆ is an alkyl group selected from methyl, ethyl or propyl.

A nitrile group is preferably a group CN or a group CNR₇ wherein R₇ is an alkyl group or an aryl group as defined above. Preferably R₇ is an alkyl group selected from methyl, ethyl or propyl.

An alkenyl group contains a double bond —C═C—R₈ wherein R₈ can be an alkyl group or an aryl group as defined above. For the purposes of the invention when R₈ is alkyl, the double bond can be present at any position along the alkyl chain. Preferably R₈ is methyl, ethyl, propyl or phenyl.

An acetylide group contains a triple bond —C≡C—R₉, wherein R₉ can be an alkyl group or an aryl group as defined above. For the purposes of the invention when R₉ is alkyl, the triple bond can be present at any position along the alkyl chain. Preferably R₉ is methyl, ethyl, propyl or phenyl.

An amino group is preferably NH₂, NHR₁₀ or N(R₁₀)₂ wherein R₁₀ can be an alkyl group, a silylalkyl group or an aryl group as defined above. It will be appreciated that when the amino group is N(R₁₀)₂, each R₁₀ group can be independently selected from an alkyl group, a silylalkyl group or an aryl group as defined above. Preferably R₁₀ is methyl, ethyl, propyl, SiMe₃ or phenyl.

An amido group is —NR₁₁C(O)— or —C(O)—NR₁₁— wherein R₁₁ can be hydrogen, an alkyl group or an aryl group as defined above. Preferably R₁₁ is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl or phenyl.

It will be appreciated that for the catalyst of the first aspect, the groups R₁ and R₂ may be the same or different. For the purposes of the present invention, R₁ and R₂ are preferably independently selected from hydrogen, tBu, Me, CF₃, phenyl, F, Cl, Br, I, NMe₂, NEt₂, NO₂, OMe, OSiEt₃, CNMe, CN or CCPh, more preferably hydrogen, OMe, Me or tBu (e.g. hydrogen or tBu). In certain embodiments, R₂ is hydrogen and R₁ is any one of the groups defined above, preferably tBu, OMe or Me.

It will be appreciated that the group R₃ is a disubstituted alkyl, aryl or cycloalkyl group which acts as a bridging group between two nitrogen centres in the catalyst of formula (I). Thus, where R₃ is a alkylene group, such as dimethylpropylene, the R₃ group has the structure —CH₂—C(CH₃)₂—CH₂—. The definitions of the alkyl, aryl and cycloalkyl groups set out above therefore also relate respectively to the alkylene, arylene and cycloalkylene groups set out for R₃. Preferably R₃ is ethylene, 2,2-dimethylpropylene, propylene, butylene, phenylene, cyclohexylene or biphenylene, more preferably 2,2-dimethylpropylene. When R₃ is cyclohexylene, it can be the racemic, RR— or SS— forms.

Preferably R₄ is H, Me, Et, Bn, iPr, tBu or Ph, more preferably hydrogen.

Preferably X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂, Et, Me, PhOEt, OMe, OiPr, OtBu, Cl, Br, I, F, N(iPr)₂ or N(SiMe₃)₂, more preferably OCOCH₃.

Preferably M is Zn(II), Cr(III), Cr(II), Co(III), Co(II), Mn(III), Mn(II), Mg(II), Fe(II) or Fe(III), more preferably Zn(II), Cr(III), Co(II), Mn(II), Mg(II), Fe(II) or Fe(III), and most preferably Zn(II) or Mg(II). It will be appreciated that when M is Cr(III), Co(III), Mn(III) or Fe(III), the catalyst of formula (I) will contain an additional X group co-ordinated to the metal centre, wherein X is as defined above.

In a particularly preferred aspect of the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a catalyst selected from:

A catalyst of formula (I) of the first aspect of the invention may be prepared by complexation of a ligand (for example H₂L¹, H₂L² or H₂L³, where L¹, L² or L³ are as represented within the structures shown above) with a metal complex comprising the groups M and X. Carrying out this complexation in the presence of water where X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂ or halide may lead, in addition to the formation of a catalyst of formula (I), to the formation of a dimeric catalyst species comprising two catalyst complexes of formula (I), linked by a bridging ligand X, with a bound water molecule. Accordingly, in a second aspect the invention provides a dimeric catalyst formed from two of the same monomeric subunits and a bound water molecule, wherein each monomeric subunit is a catalyst of formula (I) of the first aspect of the invention wherein X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂ or halide, and wherein the two monomeric subunits are linked by a bridging ligand X. The bridging group X may bridge between one M of each monomeric subunit, with a water molecule being bound to an M of one monomeric subunit. Each monomeric subunit of formula (I) which forms the dimeric complex has the same structure (i.e. each subunit has the same group at the R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, E₁, E₂ and M positions, respectively).

The dimeric catalyst of the second aspect can be illustrated by the formula (II):

wherein the groups R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, E₁, E₂ and M are as defined for the first aspect of the invention and X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂ or halide.

Preferably X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇ or OSO(CH₃)₂ and more preferably OCOCH₃.

M is preferably Zn(II) or Mg(II), more preferably Mg(II).

In a particularly preferred aspect of the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a catalyst as illustrated below:

When a ligand (for example H₂L¹, H₂L² or H₂L³) is combined with a metal complex comprising the groups M and X, in the presence of water, the product formed may be a mixture of the catalyst of formula (I) of the first aspect and the dimeric catalyst of the second aspect of the invention, wherein X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂ or halide. Accordingly, a third aspect of the invention provides a mixture of the catalytic species of the first aspect and the second aspect of the invention.

The fourth aspect of the invention provides a process for the reaction of carbon dioxide with an epoxide in the presence of a catalyst of the first aspect, the second aspect or the third aspect of the invention.

For the purposes of the present invention, the epoxide substrate is not limited. The term epoxide therefore relates to any compound comprising an epoxide moiety. Preferred examples of epoxides for the purposes of the present invention include cyclohexene oxide, propylene oxide, substituted cyclohexene oxides (such as limonene oxide, C₁₀H₁₆O or 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane, C₁₁H₂₂O), alkylene oxides (such as ethylene oxide and substituted ethylene oxides) or substituted oxiranes (such as epichlorohydrin, 1,2-epoxybutane, glycidyl ethers).

The process of the fourth aspect of the invention is particularly provided for the reaction of carbon dioxide with an epoxide at low pressures. The reaction can therefore be carried out at a pressure of 1 to 10 atmospheres, preferably at 1 or 2 atmospheres.

The process of the fourth aspect of the invention can be carried out at a temperature of 50° C. to 100° C. The duration of the process can be up to 48 hours preferably 20 to 24 hours.

The process of the fourth aspect of the invention can advantageously be carried out at low catalytic loading, for example, the catalytic loading for the process is preferably in the range of 1:1000-10000 catalyst:epoxide, more preferably in the region of 1:1000 catalyst:epoxide, and most preferably in the region of 1:10000 catalyst:epoxide.

The present invention provides a bimetallic catalytic complex and allows the reaction of epoxides with carbon dioxide with high turn over numbers and turn over frequencies.

It should be noted that the catalysts of the present invention operate at remarkably low pressure, e.g. 1 atm of CO₂. Indeed, the catalysts show comparable TON and TOF to literature catalysts but operate at 1/60 of the pressure of CO₂.

In addition, unlike conventional catalysts, most of the catalysts of the present invention are air stable and do not require the special handling associated with the conventional air sensitive catalysts.

The fifth aspect of the invention provides a product of the process of the fourth aspect of the invention.

The sixth aspect of the invention provides a process for the production of a catalyst of the first aspect of the invention, said process comprising reaction of a compound of formula (III)

with a metal complex comprising the groups M and X, wherein the groups R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, M, X, E₁ and E₂ are as defined for the first aspect of the invention. It will be appreciated that when E₁ is N and E₂ is ═O, the H atom is absent from the E₂-H group illustrated for the compound of formula (III).

For the purposes of this invention the number of the groups X present in the metal complex will depend on the valency of the metal M. For example, wherein M is Zn(II) and X is OAc, the metal complex will be Zn(OAc)₂. Alternatively, the metal complex may have the formula M-XH.

For the purposes of the sixth aspect of the invention, the reaction of the compound of formula (III) with a metal complex can be carried out in the presence or absence of a base. Where the reaction is carried out in the presence of a base, the base can be selected from one or more of an amine base, such as Et₃N or a hydride base, such as NaH, LiH or KH.

The reaction of the compound of formula (III) with a metal complex can be carried out in a solvent (for example THF, toluene, dichloromethane or methanol). The solvent is preferably anhydrous.

In certain embodiments, the process is carried out under anhydrous conditions and preferably the metal complex is anhydrous.

It will be appreciated that a process as defined in the sixth aspect of the invention may be used to produce a catalyst of the second or third aspect of the invention, wherein X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂ or halide, by the inclusion of water within the reaction, for example by providing a metal complex which is not completely anhydrous.

The seventh aspect of the invention provides a ligand as illustrated below:

The ligand of the seventh aspect of the invention is provided for use in the production of a catalyst of the first, second or third aspects of the invention. The seventh aspect of the invention therefore further provides a process for the production of a catalyst of the first aspect of the invention, said process comprising reaction of the ligand of the seventh aspect of the invention with a metal complex comprising the groups M and X as defined in the first aspect of the invention. The seventh aspect of the invention yet further provides a process for the production of a catalyst of the second or third aspects of the invention, said process comprising reaction of the ligand of the seventh aspect of the invention with a metal complex comprising the groups M and X, wherein X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂ or halide, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of water, for example by providing a metal complex which is not completely anhydrous. In certain embodiments, the process for the production of a catalyst of the first, second or third aspects of the invention is carried out in a solvent (for example THF, toluene, dichloromethane or methanol), preferably wherein the solvent is anhydrous. The process for the production of a catalyst of the first, second or third aspects of the invention may be carried out in the presence of KH. For the purposes of the seventh aspect of the invention, the metal complex is preferably Zn(OAc)₂ or Mg(OAc)₂.

All preferred features of each of the aspects of the invention apply to all other aspects mutatis mutandis.

The invention may be put into practice in various ways and a number of specific embodiments will be described by way of example to illustrate the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide, where [cat]=catalyst, frequently a Zn(II), Cr(III) or Co(III) complex;

FIG. 2 shows the synthesis of the dizinc complex [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂]. Reagents and conditions: i) KH, THF, −78° C.→RT, 1 hour. ii) Zn(OAc)₂, THF, RT, 16 hours.

FIG. 3 shows a plot showing the M_(n) of the polycarbonate, as determined by GPC, versus the percentage conversion, as determined by ¹H NMR. The values in parentheses represent the polydispersity index; and

FIG. 4 shows a ¹H NMR spectrum, at 110° C. of the dizinc complex [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂].

FIG. 5 shows an X-ray crystallography structure for the dimeric catalyst complex [L¹ ₂Mg₄(OAc)₄(H₂O)]

The present invention will now be illustrated by reference to one or more of the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Reaction of a number of epoxides with carbon dioxide were carried out using a bimetallic zinc complex [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂] as illustrated in FIG. 2. The macrocyclic ligand, H₂L¹, was prepared two steps, in 84% overall yield, from commercial reagents as described below. The bimetallic zinc complex, [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂], was prepared by the double deprotonation of the H₂L¹, using potassium hydride, and the subsequent reaction with zinc acetate. The complex was isolated, as a white solid, in 70% yield.

The complex stoichiometry was confirmed by the elemental analysis being in excellent agreement with the calculated values and a daughter peak in the FAB mass spectrum for the molecular ion less an acetate group. The ¹H NMR spectrum, at 25° C., shows several broadened resonances, consistent with the several diastereoisomers being present, which are fluxional on the NMR timescale. When the sample was heated to 110° C., coalescence was observed as illustrated in FIG. 4. A single resonance was observed for the aromatic protons and the NH groups showed a broadened resonance at 4.78 ppm. The methylene groups are diastereotopic and so, four broadened resonances were observed from 3.32-2.46 ppm, each with an integral of 4H. The tert-butyl and acetate methyl groups resonate as singlets with integrals of 18H and 6H, respectively. The methyl groups on the ligand backbone are also diastereotopic and are observed as two singlets, each with a relative integral of 6H.

The complex was tested, under very mild conditions, for the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide as illustrated in FIG. 1. Results of the copolymerization are set out in table 1 below. Thus, at only 1 atm pressure of carbon dioxide and at 70° C., poly(cyclohexene carbonate) was produced with a TON of 300 and a TOF of 12 h⁻¹. On increasing the temperature to 100° C. (Table 1, 1-4), the TON increased to 530 and the TOF to 26 h⁻¹. There are very few catalysts which are effective at such low pressure, the most active of these is a dizinc complex with a TON of 20 and TOF of 3.3 h⁻¹ (Table 1, entry 9). [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂] is also tolerant, it operates effectively at a loading of 0.01 mol % (Table 1, entries 5-9). The catalyst shows much enhanced activity at 1 atm compared to any previously reported catalysts; it has TONs which are up to 35 times greater and TOFs up to 10 times greater (entry 10). Indeed [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂] displays comparable TONs and TOFs to Darensbourg's bis(phenoxide)zinc catalysts (entry 12), but at 1/60 of the pressure of carbon dioxide. When the pressure of CO₂ was increased (entries 7-9), the TONs and TOFs increased to a maximum of 3400 and 140 h⁻¹, respectively. Indeed, under comparable conditions (70° C., 7 atm), [L¹Zn₂OAc₂] has a slightly higher TON (entry 7) than Coates β-diiminate catalysts (entry 11).

TABLE 1 The copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide, catalysed by [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂]. p(CO₂) TOF^(b)) % % Entry # T (° C.) [atm] TON^(a)) [h⁻¹] carbonate^(c)) polymer^(d)) M_(n) ^(e)) PDI^(e))  1 70 1 292 12.2 >99 >99.6 3518 1.22  2 80 1 439 18.3 >99 96 6193 1.19  3 90 1 567 23.6 >99 95 6519 1.21  4 100 1 527 25.1 >99 94 7358 1.21  5^(f)) 70 1 321 13.4 >99 >99 N/A N/A  6^(f)) 100 1 708 29.5 >99 89 1395 1.19  7^(f)) 70 7 728 30.3 >99 >99 1861 1.23  8^(f)) 70 10 760 31.6 >99 >99 2585 1.24  9^(f)) 100 10 3347 139.5 >99 95 14100^(g)) 1.03 10) 60 1 20 3.3 >99 N/A 19200  1.56 Comparative example 12) 50 7 494 247 90 N/A 31000  1.10 Comparative example 11) 80 60 774 32.2 >99 N/A 8900 1.2 Comparative example The copolymerizations were conducted in a Schlenk tube for 20-24 h, at a loading of [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂]:cyclohexene oxide of 1:1000 (unless otherwise stated), or in a Parr reactor at 7-10 atm for 24 h (entries 7-9). ^(a))the turn over number (TON) = number of moles of cyclohexene oxide consumed/number of moles of [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂]. ^(b))the turn over frequency (TOF) = TON/reaction period. ^(c))determined by integration of the signal at 3.45 ppm assigned to poly(cyclohexene ether) in the ¹H NMR spectrum. ^(d))assigned by integration of the signal at 4.65 ppm assigned to cyclohexene carbonate. ^(e))determined by GPC in THF, using narrow M_(w) polystyrene standards. ^(f))carried out at a loading of [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂]:cyclohexene oxide of 1:10 000. ^(g))a bimodal peak was observed with M_(n) of 14100 and 6600.

The catalyst is also selective, yielding a polymer with >99% polycarbonate linkages. In contrast to previous literature catalysts, [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂] is remarkably robust, it is still active after 24 h of reaction and at loadings of 0.01 mol %. It is also stable in air; indeed comparable TONs and TOFs are obtained for polymerizations when [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂] is handled in air. The polymerization is well controlled, giving polycarbonate with a narrow polydispersity index (Table 1) and a linear relationship between the M_(n) and percentage conversion (as illustrated in FIG. 3).

Materials and Methods

All reactions were conducted under a nitrogen atmosphere, using either standard anaerobic techniques or in a nitrogen filled glovebox. High-pressure reactions were carried out in a Parr 5513 100 mL bench reactor. 4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformylphenol was synthesised according to a literature procedure. All solvents and reagents were obtained from commercial sources (Aldrich and Merck). THF was distilled from sodium and stored under nitrogen. Cyclohexene oxide, methylene chloride and d₂-TCE were distilled from CaH₂ and stored under nitrogen. CP grade carbon dioxide was used for polymerisation studies.

¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra were performed on a Bruker AV-400 instrument, unless otherwise stated. All mass spectrometry measurements were performed using a Fisons Analytical (VG) Autospec spectrometer. Elemental analyses were determined by Mr Stephen Boyer at London Metropolitan University, North Campus, Holloway Road, London, N7. SEC data were collected using a Polymer labs PL GPC-50 instrument with THF as the eluent, at a flow rate of 1 mLmin⁻¹. Two Polymer labs Mixed D columns were used in series. Narrow M_(w) polystyrene standards were used to calibrate the instrument.

Synthesis of [H₄L^(1′)](ClO₄)₂

To a round-bottomed flask was added 4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformylphenol (1.20 g, 5.80 mmol), NaClO₄ (2.81 g, 23.2 mmol), acetic acid (0.66 mL, 11.6 mmol) and methanol (90 mL). This solution was heated to 70° C. whilst stirring, as the solution started to boil, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (0.70 mL, 5.8 mmol) was added slowly in methanol (30 mL). The yellow reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature, and left stirring for 72 hours, after which a bright orange precipitate was filtered and washed with cold (−78° C.) methanol (1.85 g, 95%).

δ_(H) (400 MHz; d⁶-dmso) 13.61 (4H, br s, NH/OH), 8.68 (4H, d, N═CH), 7.66 (4H, s, Ar—H), 3.87 (8H, s, CH₂), 1.28 (12H, s, CH₃), 1.15 (18H, s, CH₃); δ_(C) (400 MHz; d⁶-dmso) 176.5, 169.3, 142.5, 136.2, 116.6, 60.7, 35.2, 34.0, 31.2 and 23.6.

Synthesis of H₂L¹

[H₄L^(1′)](ClO₄)₂ (1.80 g, 2.69 mmol) was suspended in methanol (180 mL). The suspension was cooled to 0° C. and NaBH₄ (2.65 g, 69.9 mmol) was added slowly. As NaBH₄ was added, the red-orange suspension turned to a clear solution. Water was added slowly, and the solution turned cloudy. Once precipitate started to form, the mixture was left overnight and H₂L¹ was filtered off as a white solid (1.21 g, 88%).

Mp 162° C. (from methanol); Anal. Calc. for C₃₄H₅₆N₄O₂: C, 73.87; H, 10.21; N, 10.13. Found: C, 73.87; H, 10.26; N, 10.18. δ_(H) (400 MHz; CDCl₃): 6.95 (s, 4H, Ar—H), 3.76 (s, 8H, CH₂), 2.53 (s, 8H, CH₂), 1.27 (s, 18H, CH₃), 1.02 (s, 12H, CH₃); δ_(C) (400 MHz; CDCl₃) 154.7, 140.7, 124.9, 124.3, 59.9, 53.4, 34.7, 34.1, 33.9, 31.7, and 25.2; m/z (ES) 553 (M⁺, 75%), 277 (100), 216 (8), 175 (7).

Synthesis of [L¹Zn₂OAc₂]

H₂L¹ (0.40 g, 0.72 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (10 mL) and transferred into a Schlenk tube containing KH (0.04 g, 1.08 mmol), and cooled to −78° C., under nitrogen. This suspension was allowed to warm to room temperature and left to stir for 1 hour. The excess KH was filtered off and the solution transferred to a Schlenk tube containing Zn(OAc)₂ (0.27 g, 1.48 mmol). The reaction was left to stir for 16 hours overnight, after which the THF was removed in vacuo, and the product taken up in dry CH₂Cl₂ (10 mL). This was then filtered and the CH₂Cl₂ removed in vacuo to yield the title compound as a white powder (0.40 g, 69.5%).

Anal. Calc. for C₃₆H₆₀N₄O₂Zn₂: C, 57.07; H, 7.56; N, 7.01. Found: C, 56.91; H, 7.46; N, 6.92. δ_(H) (400 MHz, d²-tce, 383 K) 7.00 (4H, s, Ar—H), 4.78 (4H, br s, NH), 3.32 (4H, br d, CH₂), 2.95 (4H, br s, CH₂), 2.84 (4H, br s, CH₂) 2.46 (˜4H, br s, CH₂), 2.08 (˜6H, s, OAc), 1.35 (18H, s, Ar—C—CH₃), 1.29 (6H, s, CH₂—C—CH₃), 1.05 (6H, s, CH₂—C—CH₃); δ_(C) (400 MHz, d²-tce, 383 K) 174.7, 159.5 (br), 139.5 (br), 127.4, 124.4, 63.2, 56.3, 33.5, 31.4, 27.9, 21.1 and 20.7; m/z (FAB) 739 ([M-OAc]⁺, 100%).

Polymerization Conditions

Cyclohexene oxide (5 mL, 49.4 mmol) and [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂] (0.049 mmol) were added to a Schlenk tube. The cyclohexene oxide was degassed, before being left stirring under 1 atm CO₂, at a certain temperature, for 24 hours. The crude reaction mixture was then taken up in CH₂Cl₂ and evaporated in air, after which the product was dried in vacuo overnight.

For high-pressure reactions, [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂] (0.0198 mmol) was dissolved in cyclohexene oxide (20 mL, 197.6 mmol) in a Schlenk tube. This was transferred into the Parr reaction vessel, (which was dried in an oven at 140° C. overnight) under nitrogen. The reactor was brought up to temperature under 2 atm CO₂ before being left at a certain pressure and temperature for 24 hours. Work-up as above.

Turn-over-number calculated as [(isolated yield−weight catalyst)/142.1]/moles catalyst.

Example 2

Complexes [L²Zn₂(OAc)₂] and [L³Zn₂(OAc)₂] were prepared in the same manner as [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂].

Both complexes were found to react with cyclohexene oxide in the same manner as [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂]. The nature of the complexes was confirmed by very similar features in the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, elemental analysis and FAB mass spectra to [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂].

Both [L²Zn₂(OAc)₂] and [L³Zn₂(OAc)₂] were tested under mild conditions (80° C., 1 atm CO₂, 24 hours), for the copolymerisation of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide. Results showed both complexes to have similar activity to [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂]. Results of the copolymerisation are set out in table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison of catalytic activity between [L^(1,2,3)Zn₂(OAc)₂] at 80° C., 1 atm CO₂, 24 hours. TOF % % % con- Catalyst TON [h⁻¹] carbonate polymer Mn PDI version L¹Zn₂OAc₂ 439 18.4 >99 96 6200 1.20 45 L²Zn₂OAc₂ 398 16.6 >99 96 5800 1.21 40 L³Zn₂OAc₂ 288 12 >99 97 2800 1.21 29 Molar ratio of catalyst:cyclohexene oxide - 1:1000

[L²Zn₂(OAc)₂] was also tested at a higher temperature and pressure (100° C., 10 atm CO₂, 24 hours) and was found to exhibit very similar activities to [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂] under these conditions. These results are outlined in table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Comparison of catalytic activity between [L^(1,2)Zn₂(OAc)₂] at 100° C., 10 atm CO₂, 24 hours. TOF % % Catalyst TON [h⁻¹] carbonate polymer Mn PDI L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂ 3347 140 >99 96 14100 1.03 L²Zn₂(OAc)₂ 2839 118 >99 96 13000 1.04 Molar ratio of catalyst:cyclohexane oxide - 1:10000

General Procedure for the Synthesis of [H₄L^(n′)](ClO₄)₂

To a round-bottomed flask was added 4-R₁-2,6-diformylphenol, wherein R₁ is as defined for formula (I), (5.80 mmol), NaClO₄ (2.81 g, 23.2 mmol), acetic acid (0.66 mL, 11.6 mmol) and methanol (90 mL). This solution was heated to 70° C. whilst stirring, as the solution started to boil, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (0.70 mL, 5.8 mmol) was added slowly in methanol (30 mL). The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature, and left stirring for 24 hours, after which a precipitate was filtered and washed with cold (−78° C.) methanol.

This procedure was carried out to produce [H₄L^(2′)](ClO₄)₂ wherein R₁ is methyl, and to produce [H₄L^(3′)](ClO₄)₂ wherein R₁ is methoxy.

[H₄L^(2′)](ClO₄)₂ (orange crystals; 1.72 g, 2.26 mmol, 76%): ¹H NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 8.63 (d, J=13.5 Hz, 4H, N═CH), 7.34 (s, 4H, Ar—H), 3.90 (d, 8H, N—CH₂—C), 2.13 (s, 6H, Ar—CH₃), 1.28 (s, 12H, C—CH₃). ¹³C{¹H} NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 176.1, 168.1, 145.2, 122.5, 116.3, 60.2, 33.7, 30.4, 18.7. Anal. Calc. for C₂₈H₃₈Cl₂N₄O₁₀: C, 50.84; H, 5.79; N, 8.47. Found: C, 50.79; H, 5.77; N, 8.41.

[H₄L^(3′)](ClO₄)₂ (brick red powder; 0.63 g, 0.90 mmol, 31%): ¹H NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 13.83 (s, 4H, OH/NH), 8.67 (d, 4H, N═CH), 7.22 (s, 4H, Ar—H), 3.90 (s, 8H, N—CH₂—C), 3.69 (s, 6H, Ar—O—CH₃), 1.29 (s, 12H, C—CH₃). ¹³C{¹H} NMR ((d₆-DMSO): δ 174.3, 168.5, 147.3, 130.7, 116.9, 61.2, 56.4, 34.4, 23.5. Anal. Calc. for C₂₈H₃₈Cl₂N₄O₁₂: C, 48.49; H, 5.52; N, 8.08. Found: C, 48.47; H, 5.46; N, 8.12.

Synthesis of H₂L²

[H₄L^(2′)](ClO₄)₂ (2.7 mmol) was suspended in methanol (180 mL). The suspension was cooled to 0° C. and NaBH₄ (2.65 g, 70 mmol) was added slowly. As NaBH₄ was added, the red-orange suspension turned to a clear solution. The solution was allowed to stir at room temperature for 1 hour, after which water was added slowly, and the solution turned cloudy. Once precipitate started to form, the mixture was left overnight. The product was filtered, washed with water and dried under vacuum to yield white crystals of the title compound.

H₂L² (0.75 g, 1.6 mmol, 59%): Mp 154° C. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 6.74 (s, 4H, Ar—H), 3.74 (s, 8H, N—CH₂—Ar), 2.51 (s, 8H, N—CH₂—C), 2.22 (s, 6H, Ar—CH₃), 1.03 (s, 12H, C—CH₃). ¹³C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ 154.6, 128.7, 127.2, 124.7, 59.7, 52.7, 34.7, 25.0, 20.4. m/z (ES): 469 ([M+H]⁺, 100%), 235 (14%). Anal. Calc. for C₂₈H₄₄N₄O₂: C, 71.76; H, 9.46; N, 11.95. Found: C, 71.60; H, 9.52; N, 11.88.

Synthesis of H₂L³

[H₄L^(3′)](ClO₄)₂ (1.40 g, 2.02 mmol) was suspended in MeOH (110 mL). The suspension was cooled to 0° C. and NaBH₄ (1.99 g, 52.6 mmol) was added slowly. As NaBH₄ was added, the brick-red suspension turned to a light brown, clear solution. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the crude product taken up in a minimal amount of CHCl₃. After an hour a brown precipitate was filtered off, and the solvent removed in vacuo. The product was recrystallised from MeOH/H₂O and dried under vacuum.

H₂L³ (White crystals, 0.340 g, 0.68 mmol, 34% yield): Mp 74° C. (from CHCl₃). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 6.52 (s, 4H, Ar—H), 3.74 (m, 14H, N—CH₂—Ar and Ar—O—CH₃), 2.50 (s, 8H, N—CH₃—C), 1.02 (s, 12H, C—CH₃). ¹³C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ 151.7, 150.5, 125.6, 113.5, 59.4, 55.7, 52.6, 34.6, 24.9; m/z (ES): 501 (100%, [M+H]⁺), 251 (25%). Anal. Calc. for C₂₈H₄₄N₄O₄: C, 67.17; H, 8.86; N, 11.19. Found: C, 67.28; H, 8.98; N, 11.06.

General Procedure for the Synthesis of [L^(n)Zn₂(OAc)₂]

H₂L^(n) (0.72 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (10 mL) in a Schlenk tube. The solution was transferred to another Schlenk tube containing Zn(OAc)₂ (0.27 g, 1.48 mmol). The reaction was left to stir for 16 hours overnight, after which the THF was removed in vacuo, and the product taken up in dry CH₂Cl₂ (10 mL). The solution was then filtered, the solvent removed in vacuo and the white powdery product dried under vacuum overnight.

[L²Zn₂(OAc)₂] (0.37 g, 0.52 mmol, 72%): ¹H NMR (d₂-TCE, 383 K): δ 6.83 (s, 4H, Ar—H), 4.76 (br s, 4H, NH), 3.26 (br s, 4H, CH₂), 2.96 (br s, 4H, CH₂), 2.79 (br s, 4H, CH₂), 2.44 (br s, 4H, CH₂), 2.27 (s, 6H, Ar—CH₃), 2.09 (s, 6H, OAc), 1.26 (s, 6H, C—CH₃), 1.04 (s, 6H, C—CH₃). ¹³C{¹H} NMR (d₂-TCE, 383 K): δ 175.1, 159.0 (br), 139.0 (br), 131.0, 124.7, 63.4, 56.1, 33.4, 27.9, 21.3, 19.7. m/z (FAB): 656 ([M-OAc]⁺, 100%). Anal. Calc. for C₃₂H₄₈N₄O₆Zn₂: C, 53.71; H, 6.76; N, 7.83. Found: C, 53.60; H, 6.74; N, 7.82.

[L³Zn₂(OAc)₂] (0.40 g, 0.54 mmol, 75%): ¹H NMR (d₂-TCE, 383 K): δ 6.61 (s, 4H, Ar—H), 4.68 (s, br, 4H, NH), 3.77 (s, 6H, Ar—OCH₃), 3.21 (s, br, 4H, CH₂), 2.98 (s, br, 4H, CH₂), 2.76 (s, br, 4H, CH₂), 2.49 (s, br, 4H, CH₂), 2.01 (s, 6H, OAc), 1.25 (s, 6H, C—CH₃), 1.03 (s, 6H, C—CH₃). ¹³C{¹H} NMR (d₂-TCE, 383 K): δ 174.5, 155.2, 150.4, 125.5, 116.2, 63.2, 56.8, 33.4, 27.8, 21.4, 20.8. m/z (FAB): 687 ([M-OAc]⁺, 98%). Anal. Calc. for C₃₂H₄₈N₄O₈Zn₂: C, 51.42; H, 6.47; N, 7.49. Found: C, 51.36; H, 6.56; N, 7.49.

Example 3

A complex of H₂L¹ and Mg(OAc)₂ was prepared in the same manner as [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂]. X-ray crystallography, ¹H and ¹³C NMR data suggest that the bimetallic magnesium complex produced is a mixture of two different structures, one containing two acetate groups ([L¹Mg₂(OAc)₂]) and one being a dimeric structure containing two ligand moieties linked by a bridging acetate group, with one bound water molecule ([L¹ ₂Mg₄(OAc)₃(H₂O)]. The dimeric structure is shown in FIG. 5. The dimeric structure is formed due to the presence of an impurity of water during the complexation of the macrocyclic ligand H₂L¹ with Mg(OAc)₂. Unlike Zn(OAc)₂, Mg(OAc)₂ is not commercially available in anhydrous form. Commercially available Mg(OAc)₂.4H₂O was dried under vacuum at 100° C., prior to use in the complexation reaction. It has been found that this drying was insufficient to remove all of the water, and therefore provides a source of water to allow the formation of a dimeric complex.

Other catalyst complexes of formula (I) of the present invention may form a dimeric structure or mixture of monomer and dimer where catalyst synthesis is carried out in the presence of water. Dimer formation is avoided when the synthesis is anhydrous.

The mixture of the [L¹Mg₂(OAc)₂] complex and dimeric structure thereof was tested under mild conditions for the copolymerisation of carbon dioxide and cyclohexane oxide. Results of the copolymerisation are set out in table 4. Data shows that the magnesium complex mixture shows excellent activity under identical conditions as used for [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂].

TABLE 4 Comparison of [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂] and magnesium complex activities for copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and CO₂. Where [L¹Mg₂(OAc)₂] represents a mixture of [L¹Mg₂(OAc)₂] and [L^(1,2)Mg₄(OAc)₃(H₂O)]. The molar catalyst loading is 1:1000 (catalyst:epoxide) at 1 atm CO₂ and 1:10000 (catalyst:epoxide) at 10 atm CO₂. Time T P TOF % % Catalyst (h) (° C.) (atm) TON [h⁻¹] carbonate polymer Mn PDI L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂ 24 80 1 439 18.3 >99 96 6200 1.19 L¹Mg₂(OAc)₂ 16 80 1 527 33.3 >99 >99 7200 1.23 L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂ 24 100 1 527 25.1 >99 94 7400 1.21 L¹Mg₂(OAc)₂ 5 100 1 482 96.4 >99 >99 6400 1.24 L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂ 24 100 10 3347 140 >99 96 14100 1.03 L¹Mg₂(OAc)₂ 5 100 10 3660 732 >99 >99 14300 1.05

As can be seen from table 4, the magnesium catalyst mixture shows a TOF of almost 34 h⁻¹ at 80° C. and 1 atm CO₂, this value increases to almost 97 h¹ when the temperature is increased to 100° C. (entries 2 and 4). If the pressure is increased to 10 atm, the activity is increased further still (entry 6). In addition, there is no evidence for the formation of any cyclic carbonate in the ¹H NMR spectra. This is observed for all copolymerisations using the magnesium catalyst and is very unusual, as the formation of cyclic carbonate is generally held to be under thermodynamic control, increasing with temperature. The polymer properties are very similar to those produced by [L¹Zn₂(OAc)₂], with similar polydispersities, molecular weights and no observable ether linkages.

Synthesis of the Mixed Magnesium Complex

H₂L¹ (0.40 g, 0.72 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (10 mL) in a Schlenk tube The solution was transferred to another Schlenk tube containing Mg(OAc)₂ (0.21 g, 1.48 mmol). The reaction was left to stir for 16 hours overnight, after which the THF was removed in vacuo, and the product taken up in dry CH₂Cl₂ (10 mL). The solution was then filtered, the solvent removed in vacuo and the white powdery product dried under vacuum overnight.

¹H NMR (CD₃OD): δ Complex A (monomeric [L¹Mg₂(OAc)₂]): 7.03 (s, 4H, Ar—H), 4.03 (d, J=11.8 Hz, 4H, CH₂), 3.22 (d, J=11.8 Hz, 4H, CH₂). 2.79 (d, J=11.6 Hz, 4H, CH₂), 2.65 (d, J=11.5 Hz, 4H, CH₂), 1.91 (s, ˜6H, OAc), 1.28 (s, 18H, Ar—C—CH₃), 1.26 (s, 6H, C—C—CH₃), 1.03 (s, 6H, C—C—CH₃). Complex B (dimeric complex [L¹ ₂Mg₄(OAc)₄(H₂O)]): 7.14 (s, 4H, Ar—H), 3.97 (s, 8H, Ar—CH₂—N), 2.73 (s, 8H, N—CH₂—C), 1.91 (s, ˜6H, OAc), 1.29 (s, 18H, Ar—C—CH₃), 1.26 (s, ˜6H, C—C—CH₃), 1.06 (s, 6H, C—C—CH₃). m/z (FAB): 657 ([M-OAc]⁺, 100%). 

1. A catalyst of formula (I)

wherein R₁ and R₂ are independently hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, halide, amine, a nitro group, an ether group, a silyl ether group, a nitrile group or an acetylide group; R₃ is alkylene, arylene or cycloalkylene; R₄ is H, alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl; E₁ is C, E₂ is O, S or NH or E₁ is N and E₂ is O; X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂, alkyl, alkoxy, halide or amido; and M is Zn(II), Cr(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Cr(III)-X, Co(III)-X, Mn(III)-X or Fe(III)-X.
 2. A catalyst as claimed in claim 1 wherein R₁ and R₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, tBu, Me, CF₃, phenyl, F, Cl, Br, I, NMe₂, NEt₂, NO₂, OMe, OSiEt₃, CNMe, CN or CCPh.
 3. A catalyst as claimed in claim 1 wherein R₃ is ethylene, 2,2-dimethylpropylene, propylene, butylene, phenylene, cyclohexylene or biphenylene.
 4. A catalyst as claimed in claim 1 wherein R₄ is H, Me, Et, Bn, iPr, tBu or Ph.
 5. A catalyst as claimed in claim 1 wherein X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂, Et, Me, PhOEt, OMe, OiPr, OtBu, Cl, Br, I, F, N(iPr)₂ or N(SiMe₃)₂.
 6. A catalyst as claimed in claim 1 wherein said catalyst has a structure selected from:


7. A dimeric catalyst wherein said dimeric catalyst comprises two monomeric subunits and a bound water molecule, wherein each monomeric subunit is a catalyst of formula (I) of claim 1, wherein X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂ or halide, and wherein the two monomeric subunits are linked by a bridging ligand X.
 8. A dimeric catalyst as claimed in claim 7 wherein said catalyst has the structure:

wherein: X is OCOCH₃, OCOCF₃, OSO₂C₇H₇, OSO(CH₃)₂ or halide.
 9. A dimeric catalyst as claimed in claim 7 wherein said catalyst has the structure:


10. (canceled)
 11. A process for the reaction of carbon dioxide with an epoxide in the presence of a catalyst as claimed in claim
 1. 12. A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein the epoxide is selected from cyclohexene oxide, propylene oxide, a substituted cyclohexene oxide, an alkylene oxide or a substituted oxirane.
 13. A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein said process is carried out at 1 atmosphere.
 14. A product of the process of claim
 11. 15-21. (canceled) 